Chapter 93: Outsiders

Don't open the lid that's been sealed for so long until you're mentally ready.

Everyone underestimated the underground world's backlash. Its history is far older than the surface towns that rose in the last twenty years; its population and clans have lived there for countless generations.

"In the Gray Goblins' bank, flowers bloomed in the middle—the vault's interior was breached, and vast quantities of gold, magical metals, collections, and collateral were swept clean. The losses are surely astronomical; they dare not even announce it. Probably afraid of being targeted again."

This was the number-one headline, and the reason the news spread so widely.

Some even said the underground creatures were short-sighted—wasn't this forcing surface adventurers to go down and loot?

"At the main underground entrances in Ash District and North Le District, massive collapses occurred, along with surges of monsters."

But now that they want to go down, it won't be easy.

"In the fighting, we didn't just encounter various monsters from underground ruins—we also saw entire clans from the underground world. The most obvious were dark elves and gray dwarves, plus countless tamed monsters. We even spotted dragonlings." This was already unmistakably a war.

Before the kingdom could act against the underground ruins, it was the underground world—treated as mere "ruin clusters"—that struck first.

At this moment, the "civilized" people on the surface completely underestimated their opponents. Rumors, big and small, spread through every street and alley, especially in the Mage Street shops run by outsiders.

The civilized folk never realized this wasn't a hunt or a crackdown—it was a war about to begin. Their side still clung to the mindset of a picnic or a treasure hunt, while their opponent took it far more seriously.

"We thought this was just a large-scale hunt. We sent hunters, scouts, even legions down, and waited for results." This was the majority view—even Li En's group had believed it.

"To them, this is their land, their homeland."

The emerging enemies weren't just the wild monsters underground—they were primarily the various underground clans.

Cultists, exiles, intelligent underground races, and all kinds of monsters had bizarrely banded together and struck first.

"But aren't we not their enemies? Our target is the demon god." Some church elders were confused. "We shouldn't have conflict—we're just passing through to exterminate the demon god. Why not just ignore us?"

"You think they believe that?"

When a massive army arrives at your home and claims they're just passing through to hunt, will the locals believe it? Will the intelligent underground races stay silent?

"Just passing through, no harm done—say it again. Do you even believe your own words?"

Consider the nature of nobles, mercenaries, and adventurers—once they reach the underground treasure vaults, will they just walk past? They never do anything that doesn't turn a profit.

"Damn it, if the demon god awakens, won't they be destroyed too?" The more they spoke, the less confident they sounded.

Someone finally found the key.

If the underground seal is broken, will they be destroyed? They're not you beastfolk!

This was a secret known only to the high command—but the more they knew, the less they could trust these outsiders.

The entity about to escape below isn't the true demon god—it's one of your beastfolk's ancient ancestors, a mortal enemy with a deep grudge against you.

When it emerges, it will immediately target the beastfolk—even cleanse your cities outright, wiping this entire continent clean. Wouldn't that give these outsiders breathing room?

The beastfolk's civilization had grown too accustomed to "peace," never imagining that just a slight movement would provoke the greatest reaction from those who seemed unrelated.

"They may have been waiting for this day a long time." From this moment on, the loyalties of these outsiders might all be questioned.

"Perhaps only we never realized—the right to survive under the sun isn't without cost." Someone began reflecting on history.

Princess Daneya, as the responsible party, had just gained new power when she was struck head-on.

No one blamed her as the decision-maker—because the situation had exceeded everyone's expectations.

No one anticipated that a routine "extermination of evil" would instantly turn seemingly unrelated, friendly "old friends" into enemies.

No one expected the "prey" meant to wait quietly underground for extermination would strike first.

"No, I should've realized sooner. Outsiders have never been trustworthy. The land we now live on was once theirs."

But Princess Daneya, raised and trained by the royal family, did not shift blame.

She saw it as a failure, a severe setback just as it had begun.

"This isn't a hunt—it's a war. A war for survival between us—the beastfolk (ARK)—and all other races. This is the vanguard of the Magic Tide, but the enemy has already lost patience."

The review of the attack was swift. The kingdom's stupidity, negligence, and utter lack of preparedness were laid bare in the damage reports.

Several key entrances were now completely blocked. Clearing the monsters near them might take months. The richest bank on Mage Street had been looted clean—they'd clearly been watching for a long time.

". h, why is it so empty today?"

Li En, on his way to Mage Street for class today, hadn't yet connected the dots.

He looked around—all the shops had been open the last time he came; now several were closed.

Pedestrians hurried past, wary and probing each other.

"Could they still be hunting me?" Li En didn't think he was worth it, but he became even more cautious.

He didn't linger on the street—being late was unacceptable—so he went straight to the grand cathedral for class.

During the break, he learned more from his classmates' chatter.

"Princess Daneya has ordered the clearance, registration, and enrollment of all outsiders." These noble and merchant-heir students were well-informed.

"Dark elf and gray dwarf shops have been sealed—they're likely directly involved in the attack."

"What do you mean 'likely'? The Gray Goblins are furious—they've already put bounties on the dark elves." In this world, money buys power. The Gray Goblins certainly have means.

Some outsider shops were forcibly closed; others shut voluntarily to avoid attracting more trouble during this turmoil.

During wars, thugs who stoke racial tensions and extort shops under the guise of "higher justice" aren't a one-time thing.

"So, hasn't the princess's plan already collapsed?"

". ery likely. It'll take a long time to clear even these entrances."

The enemy's plan was clear: use underground monsters to harass the surface, slow you down.

Blow up some tunnels to restrict your advance.

For tunnels they can't destroy, they flood them with monsters and powerful creatures—physically blocking your path. Some passages already have scorpion-lions and hydra-lizards.

"What's the point? What's coming will come. Our kingdom decided to strike—it won't stop." The apprentices debated, voicing their opinions.

This incident had become the number-one news of the past two days.

Most of them had just now realized there was a whole world beneath their feet.

". es, it's meaningful. For both sides, time is life." Li En knew: if they dragged this out for months, it would severely damage the princess's plan.

But here, a small anomaly emerged.

"Uh, the underground passage in the docks area? It's still intact?" The news spread quickly.

"That one might be controlled by the cultists, not the outsiders. Or maybe…"

". r maybe it's a trap."

The logic held—but a fully functional passage lay right before them. Naturally, the docks' underground passage's importance skyrocketed.

For the docks' situation—and especially for Dimon's group, now running logistics—it was good news.

But none of this directly involved Li En.

After class, Li En went straight to Master Luo Yisi and asked more questions.

His questions were specific—enough to show Luo Yisi that Li En was close to mastering a first-rank spell, and thus to becoming a true apprentice mage.

Such progress was visibly exceptional—even for a prodigy—and made Luo Yisi far more enthusiastic.

"Longstrider is indeed a solid spell choice. Most beginners favor flashy elemental magic, but in low-rank combat, spells that alter basic states are far more practical."

In low-rank combat, running faster and striking harder is far deadlier than a tiny fireball or iceball.

Longstrider, a first-rank alteration spell, is also called "Long Step" or "Little Acceleration"—the nicknames reveal its purpose.

It grants short-range acceleration, making you run faster.

That's all. The effect is simple and direct.

Most mages don't care about this spell—even many mid-rank mages skip it. But when Li En scanned the list, he spotted it immediately.

"No speed boots? I'll make my own!" To other casters, it's just a flee spell with mediocre effect.

You still have to cast it yourself, and the boost is limited. If you have time to cast, there are far better survival spells to choose from.

But for Li En—catching up might mean one slash.

That's why, in his dreams, he specifically requested the memory of this spell.

Ku Ku didn't disappoint—he gave him far too much.

"Enough. Your understanding of this spell exceeds mine—far exceeds it. You're ready to learn and master it. I hope you learn it quickly." Luo Yisi was surprised. Li En's grasp of the spell was classical, almost archetypal, yet flexible—clearly the work of a master specializing in this field.

His expression grew gentler. A true expert knows instantly—this couldn't be explained by talent alone.

There was likely a great mage behind this man—someone whose research notes Li En had seen.

Who keeps research notes on first-rank spells? Only someone who wrote them specifically for the learner—how close must that relationship be?

Li En was also astonished by Ku Ku's mastery of this spell.

On one hand, Ku Ku was a master of alteration (alchemy); on the other, he had deep practical experience with fleeing.

Though the spell requires casting, once mastered, it can be reduced to a single motion—and combined with other spells into an escape combo. It's genuinely useful.

Ku Ku had made countless improvements and refinements to this spell. Li En had fully inherited them and now sought validation from a modern mage.

The result? High praise. Ku Ku's insights hadn't aged—they confirmed Li En was ready to master it.

"Don't trust me? Give me materials—I'll make them! Speed boots! Easy!" But Ku Ku himself seemed to have other ideas.

Li En just nodded and humored him—no telling how long it'd take, or what accidents might happen along the way.

He chose this spell because war loomed—he needed immediate combat readiness.

His paladin abilities were already a system. Compared to starting a mage system from scratch, adding this new spell as a supplement to his melee setup would boost his overall combat power better.

And events soon proved his judgment correct.

(End of Chapter)